Arata touched down gently at a cottage isolated from the town, holding Esdeath carefully in his arms.
Her breathing is shallow, I need to resolve this now! Arata's thoughts raced as the doors were thrown open, his summoned gale the cause. He rushed inside, opening the window shutters as wind rushed into the room, knocking the blanket off the bed.
Putting her down on the bed, he placed both his index and middle finger on her wrist, his brows drawing together in a frown. Her pulse is dropping and her temperature also – Arata leaned over Esdeath's face, placing his right palm on her forehead– it's quite high. He turned around placing Black marlin on the desk beside the bed, taking off his coat and hanging it on the chair beside him.
Folding up the sleeves of his white shirt, Arata ran his fingers through his hair, approaching the desk and rummaging through the drawers. Pulling out a metal briefcase, upon opened it, he sighed in relief as it turned out to be the first aid kit he had being searching for. He stood by Esdeath's side, placing the kit on the chair proceeding to scan her body, noting the bruises.
Opening up the kit, he darted about, tending to each wound as swiftly and as efficiently as possible. After a few minutes of non-stop aid, Arata placed the last of the bandages in the kit tossed it on the desk, slumping on the chair with a tired sigh.
I believe I have treated every wound, now I have no choice but to wait. He placed his elbows on his thighs, interlocking his fingers under his nose as he leaned forward.
"Arata-sama! I hope I'm not late!" Roland barged into the room, a brown satchel in his hand.
"It is alright, Roland-san. I should be the one thanking you for not only offering your residence on such short notice, but also rushing to find the ingredients for the antidote I need to make." Arata rose, waving off Roland's worries with a smile.
"Here it is. Since you mentioned it was the Honō's clan medium grade poison, I got to work on the antidote."
"You have my thanks." Arata smiled, taking the satchel from Roland and carefully placing the container within it on the table.
Opening the brown wrapping paper, Arata flinched, frowning deeply as he covered his mouth with his fist.
"A-Arata-sama, what's the matter?! Did I make a mistake with the preparation?!" Roland stuttered, extremely surprised at Arata's expression, a countenance he couldn't recall the last time he had seen.
"Could it be that the poison is much worse than we thought…" He froze as Arata turned to him, his brows creasing deeply. "…my apologies, Arata…"
"The antidote…it is an orally administered drug is it not? Specifically the sublingual type?"
Ah! Roland gasped softly in realization. He rose, walking away quietly as he shut the door with a gentle click. "I'll get some water, Arata-sama."
"H-hey!" Arata sighed as he noted Roland's receding footsteps. Sitting down with a huff, he crossed his arms, letting out another sigh as he glanced at the finely ground herbs in the parcel.
Do I really have to? He massaged his temple, tiredly, another groan escaping his lips. I really should avoid delay, else the poison does more damage to her body.
Exhaling sharply, he picked up a fingerful of the antidote and placed it in his mouth. Leaning over Esdeath, Arata parted her lips and pushed his against hers, moving her tongue up slightly as the moist powder slid beneath it, dissolving. He stepped back, wiping the corner of his mouth with a frown as his cheeks took on a reddened tint.
Damn it. He sighed, flopping on the chair and covering his face with both of his palms. There was no other choice because I had to administer it swiftly.
EXCUSES.
Arata sighed, an act he found himself doing most of the time during his interactions with Esdeath. Leaning forward, he covered his nose and mouth with his palms, glancing back as the door was opened.
"I hope there is no issue, Arata-sama?" Roland asked as he walked into the room with two glasses of water.
Traitor! Arata smiled, the act not quite reaching his eyes as he replied. "Why, thank you, Roland-san."
Roland gulped, an earthen stump rising as he took a seat. "But it shouldn't be a problem, after all not only is she beautiful but also outstanding, Arata-sama must have had a lot of experience."
Arata turned to him, smiling dryly. "Are you, dear Roland, implying that I am a man-whore?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I'm saying…"
"I understand that you wish to make me feel better about the situation but I believe you should leave it be else you wish to anger me."
But you're already angry…
Arata slumped, exhaling noisily before muttering. "It would have not been such an issue if it was not my first…" Roland took off his helmet, freezing as he realized what Arata said. "Is it that surprising?" Arata leaned back in his chair, sparing him a glance.
"No…well yes, it is." Roland's rich baritone rang out, much clearer without his helmet on.
He has changed huh? Arata thought as he gazed at the thoughtful expression of the wandering knight. His long wavy hair dropped down to just below his chin, partly covering his ears. He had a trimmed beard, his bangs covering his dark brown eyes. "Well at the very least your communication skills seem to have gotten better…" Arata stated, growing quiet.
Roland looked at him, returning his gaze to Esdeath. "Is there something troubling you?" Arata sat back and crossed his legs, his right arm holding up his chin as his cerulean eyes reflected his disturbed thoughts. "I never believed the imperial arms of the demon would resurface…"
"Demon?! Like that of Hijiri-san?!" Roland exclaimed.
"Yes, but from the ultra-class. I made it my responsibility to keep track of the danger beasts related to the Supreme order, so after going through the records kept by the empire, I found that it the last time it was used was a decade ago."
Roland turned away, his left arm holding up his right hand that partly covered his mouth as he sorted his troubled thoughts. "I've never once heard about a demon based imperial arm…"
"Well, it exists and it takes the form of – Arata leaned to his left and dipped his hands into the pocket of his trench coat, pulling out Oni's cracked mask – of this."
Roland peered at the imperial arm, raising a brow as he asked. "I thought it would be blood based or an implant like Hijiri?"
"That does not seem to be the case. But it is quite powerful as its user can fully utilize the entire arsenal of the ultra-class demon – he turned the mask at to face him, sparing Esdeath a glance – making quite the formidable foe. Is that not the case, General Esdeath?" Arata smiled at the unmoving general, earning a baffled look from Roland.
"…"
"Are you sure you're not mistak-" Arata held up his arm, cutting off Roland while smiling apologetically.
"…" Esdeath sighed turning to Arata with a tired smile. "You didn't have to be so considerate of me, Arata-san."
"I cannot help but question the strength of the antidote, considering that it was not long since I… administered it." Arata said, shooting a not so subtle glance at the container by her bedside. Esdeath looked from Arata to the satchel, raising a brow as she turned back to the two.
"So, you must be Roland-san?" She asked, leaving her questions for a later time.
"It's an honor, General Esdeath." He replied with a nod of respectful nod.
Pushing herself to sit up with visible effort, she smirked at Arata who hovered beside her, traces of concern hidden in his expression. "You really should avoid moving for now."
Tapping his hand gratefully, Esdeath nodded at Roland. "I'm honored as well, to meet another member of the Supreme order. I apologize for meeting you in such a state." Turning to the ring Arata held in his palm as he returned to his seat, she continued. "To my knowledge, Black marlin was stolen by Night raid. So, could they be on the side of the resistance, the one who used it I mean?"
"Most likely, especially since Balzac was stolen by Najenda and her allies, if I am not mistaken?" Arata looked at Esdeath for confirmation, gaining a nod of approval.
"But…" Roland paused, his brows drawing together as he thought deeply. "…why would the resistance have that much information on not just the general but the Supreme order."
"And here I was thinking that I was the only person who suspected that…" Arata muttered, raising up Oni's mask to his eye level.
"The attacks were planned for not just Roland-san, but for me as well?" Esdeath asked.
"Uh- yes, I believe so." Roland stammered.
"It would explain how unnamed fighters were able to wear the both of you out to such an extent. But that would bring the question, how did they know about our departure from the empire, because if I recall, the only ones we told were Prime Minister Honest, the emperor and the Yeagers via letters." Arata stated, the three going silent as they searched for the answer to his question.
Esdeath sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as Arata continued. "And unfortunately, my chat with the user of Black marlin was fruitless as it seems the resistance has its inhumane methods of handling loose ends." Esdeath and Roland turned to him, brows raised.
"What do you mean?" She asked, sincerely curious.
"One of the assassins had a poison satchel in his tooth and as for the other – Arata tapped the back of his neck – he had something implanted that blew up when he tried to talk.
The two frowned; Roland in disgust while Esdeath was conflicted.
"I doubted the empire's actions but to think the resistance was much worse." Roland mumbled, his face scrunched up in disgust.
Black and white, just like Seryuu huh? Arata chuckled lightly.
"It seems we underestimated their information network. But that brings the question, what would they gain in subduing a member of the Supreme order?" Esdeath ended with a question.
"If this was indeed the doing of the resistance, I cannot imagine Hijiri being aware of the plan." Arata said.
"Yes, if anything, he'd prefer to hunt me himself."
Esdeath glanced between the two understanding the nod they shared. Having faced Hijiri herself, she knew the type of person he was.
Arata frowned, holding his chin as he thought deeply. I feel there is a missing piece, something that will make all of this make sense… Sighing, he rose from the chair. "You should get some rest, General."
"General? I thought we were past that stuffy way of addressing one another, Arata-san." Esdeath smirked tiredly.
"I'll…wait outside." Roland nodded at Esdeath and Arata, excusing himself from the room.
Arata exhaled, turning to Esdeath. "I understand you have the title of the strongest of the Empire to uphold, but if you do not rest, the antidote will have a hard time with the poison even if, as it seems, your imperial arm is a counter to the toxin."
"And I have you to be grateful for the antidote, don't I?" Esdeath rested her head on the bedstead with a smile. "But to think my first kiss would be with Arata-san."
His eyes widened in surprise briefly, a frown replacing it as he peeked at the satchel on the table, a faint red tinting his cheeks. "Were you conscious at the time?"
Esdeath looked over her torn outfit, noting the few bandages that covered the cuts from her fight. "I believe I was for a moment. But even though I might not be well versed in medicine, I know an oral antidote when I see one and you wouldn't be so irrational as to give an unconscious person water. So that left me with two assumptions. – Esdeath held up her left index and middle finger – Either you'd be so tactless as to place it in my mouth with your hand or…" She ended tapping her lower lip with a smirk.
"You seem to be in dire need of some rest, General. If you will excuse me." Arata replied straight-faced, walking out of the room. Pausing at the door, he spared Esdeath a glance. "I am glad you have freed yourself from those shackles."
Well isn't that adorable? Esdeath chuckled, laying down on her side.
Arata shut the front door quietly, turning to meet Roland who stood waiting. "Is the general asleep now?"
Chortling softly, he replied. "I doubt." Turning to Roland, he asked somberly. "How have you been, Roland?"
Roland went silent, staring off into the distance. The two stood, none willing to break the silence immediately.
Exhaling sharply, Roland stuttered. "I…I have been searching for a purpose…" Arata peeked at him briefly, remaining silent. "Arata-sama, if I may ask, why have you joined hands with the empire? There's no way you're unaware of the fact that they're solely responsible for the fall of the Honō, Yama and Tani clans, so…why?" Roland asked anxiously, hoping for an answer or rather the answer he wished to hear.
Noting his expression, Arata remained quiet, considering the manner in which he could convince him, a person directly affected by the empire's sins to ally himself with them.
He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose tiredly. "I did so because I wish to prevent another tragedy like that from happening. I hold a strong position in the empire so I will be able to help set the naïve child emperor on the right path as well as keep an eye on the scum in the empire."
Roland sighed, easing his posture. "So, you have no plans for revenge?"
"As selfish as it may sound, I wish to look at the bigger picture, after all – Arata paused, turning to face Roland, - revenge is a short-sighted goal. So, Roland, if you wish to purge the empire of its scum, join me." Roland looked from the hand offered to him to the determination that Arata's gaze held.
"Very well, but my allegiance will be to you and not the empire." Roland exhaled sharply.
"I would not suggest otherwise." Arata smirked, shaking Roland's hand firmly.
A large bird blotted out the sun for a moment, attracting the attention of the two who watched the grey and white falcon approach. "Is that for you?" Roland asked quietly, his mallet shooting out of the ground into his open palm. Peering closely at the insignia on a cloth tied to its foot, Arata held up his hand. I believe it is."
The bird landed at his feet, chirping loudly as it folded its wing in. He crouched, affectionately rubbing the beast's head as he untied the paper from its feet. "It's quite impressive that the beast could find you." Roland stated, his mallet cracking and crumbling apart.
"The Marg falcon is known for its incredible sense of sight and smell. I would not be surprised if the doctor used just a sketch of me to have it track me down." Arata explained, sitting on the grass as he unfurled the folded paper.
Seryuu?!